Matthew 25:1–31
1 “Then athe kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their blamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
2 “Five of them were foolish, and five were aprudent.
3 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them,
4 but the aprudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.
5 “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.
6 “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’
7 “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.
8 “The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’
9 “But the aprudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were aready went in with him to bthe wedding feast; and cthe door was shut.
11 “Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘aLord, lord, open up for us.’
12 “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’
13 “aBe on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
14 “aFor it is just like a man babout to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.
15 “To one he gave five 1atalents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he bwent on his journey.
16 “Immediately the one who had received the five atalents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.
17 “In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.
18 “But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his 1master’s money.
19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves * came and * asettled accounts with them.
20 “The one who had received the five atalents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’
21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and afaithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will bput you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your 1master.’
22 “Also the one who had received the two atalents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’
23 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and afaithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
24 “And the one also who had received the one atalent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.
25 ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’
26 “But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.
27 ‘Then you ought to have put my money 1in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
28 ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’
29 “aFor to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.
30 “Throw out the worthless slave into athe outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 “But when athe Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then bHe will sit on His glorious throne.